Tick-Tock
07-17-2012, 10:00 PM
July 7 was a short drive, Nashville to Louisville. Nashville was the site of another autocross, which we visited briefly before setting off. (We also checked out the Nashville store of Antique Archeology, which is featured on the show American Pickers. It was easily identifiable by the half-block long line of people outside waiting to get in. We skipped stopping. During the drive from Colo. to New Jersey, we had seen the Iowa store (the one you see on the show), but it was too early for it to be open when we passed.)
All of the cities up to this point were hot and humid, given the fact that it was July, but also courtesy of an especially unusual heat wave. But Louisville took the prize. Our MINI's thermometer reported 108 degrees as we pulled into Louisville! Our hotel here was one of the nicest yet. Called 21c, it's a combination hotel and 24-hour contemporary art gallery. They have a fleet of plastic red penguins that move about the hotel all day and night. We returned from dinner to find a red penguin just outside our room, looking like he was considering entering...
July 8, Louisville to Chicago. MINI had another autocross in Joliet, IL, which many local MINI clubs attended. Our Chicago hotel, the Dana, edged out 21c by upgrading us to a suite! You know you have a good room when you notice that the card key has a picture of your room on it! Separate sitting area and bar, a tub the size of a canoe, a shower with two overhead sprinklers and side sprinklers, and a balcony. I almost didn't leave!
Sadly, though, I had to go home to meet some family who were passing through Denver. So I tore myself away from the suite and flew home from Midway. DH continued the drive from Chicago to Des Moines on July 9, Des Moines to Lincoln, NE on July 10, and Lincoln to Boulder, CO on July 11.
All of the cities up to this point were hot and humid, given the fact that it was July, but also courtesy of an especially unusual heat wave. But Louisville took the prize. Our MINI's thermometer reported 108 degrees as we pulled into Louisville! Our hotel here was one of the nicest yet. Called 21c, it's a combination hotel and 24-hour contemporary art gallery. They have a fleet of plastic red penguins that move about the hotel all day and night. We returned from dinner to find a red penguin just outside our room, looking like he was considering entering...
July 8, Louisville to Chicago. MINI had another autocross in Joliet, IL, which many local MINI clubs attended. Our Chicago hotel, the Dana, edged out 21c by upgrading us to a suite! You know you have a good room when you notice that the card key has a picture of your room on it! Separate sitting area and bar, a tub the size of a canoe, a shower with two overhead sprinklers and side sprinklers, and a balcony. I almost didn't leave!
Sadly, though, I had to go home to meet some family who were passing through Denver. So I tore myself away from the suite and flew home from Midway. DH continued the drive from Chicago to Des Moines on July 9, Des Moines to Lincoln, NE on July 10, and Lincoln to Boulder, CO on July 11.